By Shivali Shah, Staff Writer
As quarter one draws to a close on October 31st, anxiety in students is on a rise. After 10 weeks of new teachers, schedules and classmates, River Hill has just brushed the surface of the school year and what’s to come.
Some students believe that the year started off stressful, finding it difficult to adjust back into the school mindset after summer break. The transition from a relaxing summer to a busy school schedule was jarring and impacted focus and motivation. Sophomore Nika Nikinson describes, “I just didn’t want to do work. I had just come back from summer, I was on vacation, I really didn’t want to do anything.”
Not only was the change in activity tough, but changing schedules was hard for some as well. Tenth grader Madeline Thompson comments, “It was hard for me to start waking up on time because, during the summer, I was waking up really late. I have to wake up at 6:30 now for school.” Having to change daily routines may make students feel hurried or stressed in the morning if they are behind schedule.
Looking ahead, students are also nervous for what’s to come, with big exams, competitions and other events approaching. When asked if she was anxious for the rest of the school year, Nika stated, “Yeah definitely, The PSAT counts, SAT counts, and the AP exams also count on top of all the other exams you have to take.” The anxiety towards these exams is almost tangible, as it highlights how much students really care about the outcomes of these tests and how it’ll impact their futures.
With the pressure to perform well in school, many students feel they have to cut back on their social life or extracurriculars so they can devote their energy to schoolwork. As a result, students have less time to do what they love. Nika expresses her worries, sharing, “I’m spread out really thin. I’ve had to cut down some of my extracurriculars, like I dropped guitar, because I don’t have time for it anymore. And, I’ve been trying to balance my social life, because for a teenager, that’s also very important. And [extracurriculars] make me happy but I’ve barely had time to talk to my mom or my dad because it’s a lot [to balance].” Not having enough time for extracurriculars and socializing, in addition to school work, is a big problem for a lot of students. Being unable to do the things you enjoy can be frustrating and because of this, many students feel burnt out.
Although the stress to maintain grades can be tremendous, especially since grades are finalized after the quarter ends, students have found strategies to cope with the pressure and to be efficient with their schoolwork. One popular method to reduce procrastination and increase motivation is, as Madeline Thompson says, to “do my work as soon as it’s given, to get it done with. I also try to get my work done before the weekend so I can give myself a mental break during the weekend.”
Despite the many hardships, students say they’re prepared for what’s to come. With the right mindset, they’ll be ready for what the rest of the year will throw their way. Nika has an optimistic attitude and states, “If I work hard everyday and manage my time well, I know that I can push through and make it through the end of the year!”